Moto Morini X-Cape 650X, Track Test

Looks can be subjective, but the Moto Morini X-Cape 650X is designed well. There are some bits of the Multistrada in there, some elements from the Africa Twin, the BMW F900XR and maybe a sprinkle of inspiration from the Yamaha Ténéré 700. All great-looking bikes, which gives the X-Cape an almost underlying familiarity. You look at it as a premium motorcycle, because it reminds you of a premium motorcycle.

The feeling of premiumness continues as you swing your leg around the saddle and play around with the switchgear. At ₹7.20-7.50 lakh, you get backlit, well-finished buttons with positive tactical feedback. You also get a body which has neat, tightly put-together panels and then there’s the massive 7-inch TFT screen that won’t feel out of place on movie night. It is super bright and very colourful. There are also riding modes on offer, switchable ABS, a fully-adjustable Marzocchi fork up front, and a monoshock at the rear with adjustment for preload and rebound damping. The X-Cape is very well kitted out, even before you set your eyes on the Pirelli Scorpion STR tyres that are wrapped around spoked rims on this ‘X’ variant. Yup, tubeless spoke rims. That’s not something you see every day at this price point.

It rides well too. The 649cc inline twin-cylinder engine barks nicely when you rev it and has adequate performance – 59bhp @ 8,250rpm and 54Nm @ 5,000rpm. Of course, the X-Cape’s tall stance and knobby tyres mean that it doesn’t feel ‘at home’ going full tilt around the BIC’s parabola but you can feel it is a well-balanced motorcycle underneath. And, having ridden it off-road, it truly is a capable machine when you take it out into the real world.

There are a few shortcomings though, the biggest one being the fact that Moto Morini is a new entity in India and though they will operate through pre-existing Benelli dealerships, there are not too many of those around either. That said, with the X-Cape, you are getting a lot of motorcycle for the money.

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